Fragments-Comma-Splices-and-Run-On-Sentences.ppt
- 1. 1 1 Fragments, Comma Splices, Fragments, Comma Splices, and Run-on sentences and Run-on sentences The major mistakes in The major mistakes in English grammar! English grammar!
- 2. 2 2 Fragments Fragments Fragments are “incomplete” sentences. They Fragments are “incomplete” sentences. They have a subject and a verb but no complete have a subject and a verb but no complete thought. thought. Fragments look like sentences; sometimes they Fragments look like sentences; sometimes they are even punctuated like sentences. Don’t let are even punctuated like sentences. Don’t let them fool you! Don’t let them give you a bad them fool you! Don’t let them give you a bad grade! grade!
- 3. 3 3 Examples of fragments Examples of fragments When the party started. When the party started. As soon as they get here. As soon as they get here. Whenever the traffic gets heavy. Whenever the traffic gets heavy. To find a job in another city. To find a job in another city. Running laps every day. Running laps every day. Over the hill and around the corner. Over the hill and around the corner. Because Sandra is feeling ill. Because Sandra is feeling ill.
- 4. 4 4 How to fix fragments: make a complete How to fix fragments: make a complete sentence / add a complete thought sentence / add a complete thought When the party started. When the party started. As soon as they get here. As soon as they get here. Whenever the traffic gets heavy. Whenever the traffic gets heavy. To find a job in another city. To find a job in another city. Running laps every day. Running laps every day. Over the hill and around the corner. Over the hill and around the corner. Because Sandra is feeling ill. Because Sandra is feeling ill. When the party started, everybody When the party started, everybody was dancing. was dancing. As soon as they get here, we will go As soon as they get here, we will go out to eat. out to eat. Whenever the traffic gets heavy, I Whenever the traffic gets heavy, I get frustrated. get frustrated. To find a job in another city is To find a job in another city is very difficult. very difficult. Running laps every day is good for Running laps every day is good for your health. your health. Her house is over the hill and Her house is over the hill and around the corner. around the corner. Because Sandra is feeling ill, she Because Sandra is feeling ill, she won’t be able to play in the game won’t be able to play in the game tonight. tonight.
- 5. 5 5 Comma splices Comma splices A comma splice is a comma that joins two A comma splice is a comma that joins two independent clauses. independent clauses. Many students seem to think that a comma Many students seem to think that a comma splice is a misplaced comma. Other students splice is a misplaced comma. Other students believe that a comma splice is a sentence with believe that a comma splice is a sentence with too many commas. This is not always true! too many commas. This is not always true! A comma has many jobs; however, one job A comma has many jobs; however, one job that the comma is NOT responsible for is to that the comma is NOT responsible for is to combine two independent clauses. combine two independent clauses.
- 6. 6 6 Examples of comma splices Examples of comma splices Pat wanted to go to Mi Pat wanted to go to Mi Pueblo, Celeste wanted Pueblo, Celeste wanted to go to Pancho’s. to go to Pancho’s. Matt is excited, he and Matt is excited, he and his wife are having a his wife are having a baby. baby. Robin is the chair of the Robin is the chair of the English department, she English department, she is the person to ask if is the person to ask if you have any questions. you have any questions. See how the comma joins See how the comma joins two independent clauses two independent clauses in these examples? These in these examples? These are comma catastrophes. are comma catastrophes. Don’t do this. Don’t do this.
- 7. 7 7 How to fix those comma splices How to fix those comma splices Since you have a comma joining two independent Since you have a comma joining two independent clauses, you can do the following things: clauses, you can do the following things: Add a coordinating conjunction after the comma. Add a coordinating conjunction after the comma. Add a subordinating conjunction in the beginning of Add a subordinating conjunction in the beginning of the first independent clause. the first independent clause. Take away the comma and replace it with a period. Take away the comma and replace it with a period. Take away the comma and replace it with a Take away the comma and replace it with a semicolon. semicolon. Take away the comma and replace it with a Take away the comma and replace it with a subordinating conjunction. subordinating conjunction.
- 8. 8 8 Fixing the errors Fixing the errors Bad sentences: Bad sentences: Pat wanted to go to Mi Pueblo, Pat wanted to go to Mi Pueblo, Celeste wanted to go to Celeste wanted to go to Pancho’s. Pancho’s. Matt is excited, he and his wife Matt is excited, he and his wife are having a baby. are having a baby. Robin is the chair of the Robin is the chair of the English department, she is the English department, she is the person to ask if you have any person to ask if you have any questions questions Good sentences: Good sentences: Pat wanted to go to Mi Pueblo, Pat wanted to go to Mi Pueblo, but Celeste wanted to go to but Celeste wanted to go to Panchos. Panchos. Matt is excited. He and his Matt is excited. He and his wife are having a baby. wife are having a baby. Since Robin is the chair of the Since Robin is the chair of the English department, she is the English department, she is the person to ask if you have any person to ask if you have any questions. questions. Note: There are many ways to Note: There are many ways to correct a sentence. correct a sentence.
- 9. 9 9 Fused sentences (otherwise known as Fused sentences (otherwise known as run-on sentences) run-on sentences) If you join TWO independent clauses with NO If you join TWO independent clauses with NO punctuation mark or connecting idea, you have punctuation mark or connecting idea, you have created a fused/run-on sentence. created a fused/run-on sentence. Fused/run-on sentences cause great confusion Fused/run-on sentences cause great confusion to your readers. to your readers. This error generally occurs when the writer This error generally occurs when the writer tries to cram too many ideas into one sentence. tries to cram too many ideas into one sentence. Organize your thoughts so that this error does Organize your thoughts so that this error does not happen! not happen!
- 10. 10 10 Examples of fused/run-on sentences Examples of fused/run-on sentences Louise didn’t feel like Louise didn’t feel like coming to work she coming to work she called Robin pretending called Robin pretending to be sick. to be sick. Geoff is a Hokie Matt is Geoff is a Hokie Matt is a Tiger. a Tiger. Pat and Celeste teach Pat and Celeste teach English 101 they read English 101 they read hundreds of papers a hundreds of papers a semester. semester. Notice how these Notice how these sentences have two ideas sentences have two ideas crammed into one? crammed into one? While having many ideas While having many ideas in one sentence is great, it in one sentence is great, it is NOT great to combine is NOT great to combine sentences this way. sentences this way.
- 11. 11 11 How to fix fused/run-on sentences How to fix fused/run-on sentences Add a period between the two independent clauses. Add a period between the two independent clauses. Add a semi-colon between the two independent Add a semi-colon between the two independent clauses. clauses. Add a comma and a coordinating conjunction Add a comma and a coordinating conjunction between the two independent clauses. between the two independent clauses. Add a subordinating conjunction between the two Add a subordinating conjunction between the two independent clauses. independent clauses. Add a subordinating conjunction in the beginning of Add a subordinating conjunction in the beginning of the sentence, and add a comma between the two the sentence, and add a comma between the two independent clauses. independent clauses.
- 12. 12 12 Fixing the errors Fixing the errors Bad Sentences Bad Sentences Louise didn’t feel like Louise didn’t feel like coming to work she called coming to work she called Robin pretending to be sick. Robin pretending to be sick. Geoff is a Hokie Matt is a Geoff is a Hokie Matt is a Tiger. Tiger. Pat and Celeste teach Pat and Celeste teach English 101 they read English 101 they read hundreds of papers a hundreds of papers a semester. semester. Good Sentences Good Sentences Since Louise didn’t feel like Since Louise didn’t feel like coming to work, she called coming to work, she called Robin pretending to be sick. Robin pretending to be sick. Geoff is a Hokie, and Matt Geoff is a Hokie, and Matt is a Tiger. is a Tiger. Pat and Celeste teach Pat and Celeste teach English 101; they read English 101; they read hundreds of papers a hundreds of papers a semester. semester.
- 13. 13 13 Dilemma?! Dilemma?! Do you NOT know how to tell if you made these Do you NOT know how to tell if you made these monstrous errors? This is what you can do: monstrous errors? This is what you can do: PROOFREAD! PROOFREAD! 1) Do all of your sentences have subject/verbs/complete 1) Do all of your sentences have subject/verbs/complete thoughts? thoughts? 2)Look at your commas. Are they all in the right place? 2)Look at your commas. Are they all in the right place? Do they, at ANY TIME, combine TWO sentences? Do they, at ANY TIME, combine TWO sentences? 3) Do your sentences make sense? Are they jumbled 3) Do your sentences make sense? Are they jumbled together? together?
- 14. 14 14 The importance of finding these The importance of finding these mistakes mistakes Fragments, comma splices, and fused/run-on Fragments, comma splices, and fused/run-on sentences can COST you good grades. sentences can COST you good grades. Many of these mistakes are careless, but is Many of these mistakes are careless, but is carelessness and laziness WORTH a bad carelessness and laziness WORTH a bad grade? grade? Each of these errors is basically worth a letter Each of these errors is basically worth a letter grade. Watch yourself! grade. Watch yourself!